The D300s is Nikon’s top of the range APS-C sensor size DSLR and the price and body layout reflect its professional status. Not all professional photographers need, or can afford, Nikon’s outstanding D3. The D300s offers photographers professional features and ruggedness in a more affordable package.
“Today’s photographer demands excellence and value from high-performance digital SLRs – and the Nikon D300s delivers,” said Edward Fasano, general manager for Marketing, SLR System Products at Nikon, Inc. “It’s no secret that more photographers need to gather multimedia content. In addition to proven technologies, such as the 51-point autofocus (AF) system and 12.3-megapixel CMOS sensor, we are more than confident that the D300s’ HD movie mode, along with a host of additional performance enhancements, will broaden the appeal of the camera to those seeking exceptional still image quality and video versatility.”
Now With Video
This is now necessary have feature for DSLRs and the “s” update brings Nikon in line with latest offerings in this DSLR category. The D300s inherits Nikon’s video capability with stereo audio capabilities including provision for high quality external microphones.
Photographers can autofocus while recording video, using contrast detect AF, and do so while composing on the D300s’ bright three-inch 920,000-dot LCD screen.
Weather Sealing
This is one of those less fashionable but essential features of photographic equipment for professional sports photographers and photojournalists. While many marketing department tend to use weasel words such as dust and water resistant, the Nikon D300s comes with rubber O-rings and gaskets. These properly seal all the buttons and doors on the camera body allowing photographers to keep shooting in dust and rain, well light rain at least. Of course, the lens needs to be proper sealing as well, not just carry a “dust and water resistant” label.
It Only Has 12.3 Megapixels
This is still the same sensor from the previous D300 model. While the comparable models from Canon and Pentax have 15 megapixels. This does not produce a significant difference in image quality as the comparative test results below from DXO labs show.
The D300s has the smaller APS-C size sensor, a DX in Nikon speak. The larger full frame sensor, or FX, is fashionable and DSLRs such as Nikon’s own FX size D3 produce’s superb results. However, for many uses, the DX sensor is more than adequate and the cost is much more friendly. The D300s is still compatible with all the Nikon system lenses and accessories so it is a good starting point for budding professionals.
The compatibility helps photographers seeking to upgrade from existing entry level Nikon DSLRs, as existing lenses and flash equipment are still useable. Existing Nikon owners can save money by purchasing a camera body only.
Price and Availability
The Nikon D300s camera body will be available at Nikon Authorized dealers beginning in late August 2009 at an estimated selling price of $US1799.95.
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